Mastic Beach, New York – A man charged with the murders of four women found along a remote stretch of Long Island’s South Shore over a decade ago is facing new scrutiny, with five women coming forward to share chilling encounters with the suspect before his arrest. Rex Heuermann, 59, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is scheduled to appear in court on February 6.
The case began with the search for 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert, an escort from New Jersey who disappeared in May 2010. Her remains were discovered along the same coast in December 2011, leading to the discovery of the ‘Gilgo Four’. Investigators have been unable to charge anyone in Gilbert’s death, and police have suggested it may have been accidental, but her family believes she was murdered.
At a recent symposium at St. John’s University, John Ray, the lawyer representing Gilbert’s family, introduced witnesses who have given sworn affidavits detailing their alleged encounters with Heuermann. Among these witnesses was Stevie Smith, Gilbert’s younger sister, who demanded that her sister’s death be classified as a homicide.
One of the women who spoke at the event was identified as Taylor, who shared a terrifying experience involving Heuermann when she was just 18 years old. She recounted how Heuermann had approached her and offered to pay her for doing cocaine, but she managed to escape when she suspected she was in danger. Other witnesses also recounted their disturbing encounters with Heuermann, each adding another layer of detail and insight into the suspect’s behavior.
Another woman, using the pseudonym Mary Poe, recounted an incident in 1994 when she was working as a sex worker and narrowly escaped a customer who attacked her. She described the encounter in chilling detail and accused Heuermann of being the assailant. Lorraine Paulino, a psychiatric nurse, also shared her alleged encounter with Heuermann during a night of swinging, further fueling suspicion around the suspect’s actions.
The event shed light on the troubling experiences of these women, all of whom have come forward in response to their distrust of the Suffolk County Police Department. Their accounts add a new dimension to the case and cast a spotlight on the allegations against Heuermann.
As the case unfolds, it’s clear that the symposium has brought forth critical testimony from individuals who feel compelled to speak out. These testimonies could potentially influence the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings, shedding new light on the case and potentially shaping the outcome of the trial. The next court date for Heuermann is set for February 6 at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, where further developments could unfold.